The NBA will have a new winner of the regular-season scoring title for the first time in a few years.
Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant, the three-time defending scoring champion, said he is sitting out Wednesday night’s regular-season finale against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Durant posted Wednesday morning on Instagram that he would not play. Even if he did, the scoring title would have been long shot. Durant needed 70 points to overtake New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony. His career high is 52.
Earlier, Thunder coach Scott Brooks told The Daily Oklahoman, in reference to Durant playing limited minutes going into the playoffs, “He has no shot. I guarantee you he won’t get it.”
Durant has averaged 28.1 points to Anthony’s 28.7 in 14 more games than the Knicks All-Star. Injuries have limited Anthony’s playing time this season.
Brooks called Durant a team player who cares more about winning NBA championships than scoring titles.
“If he was really focused on trying to get it four years in a row, he could have got it easily,” Brooks said.